Chapter 164: Midnight Visitor

The private elevator chimed with a clear tone. The doors slid open, and Evren stepped out into the quiet warmth of the 80th-floor Sky-Palace.

The scent of cedar and steaming mineral water drifted through the corridor. Across the polished stone hallway, double glass doors stood open, leading into the private indoor thermal sanctuary.

Through the panoramic glass, the lights of District 1 glowed like soft embers in the night. Radiant heat warmed the room from the floor up, gathered around a large natural mana pool set into black stone. Soft steam drifted slowly toward the high ceiling.

In the shallow corner of the pool, Calista sat on a submerged stone bench in a white linen bathing wrap. Her damp silver hair was pinned up with a wooden comb, leaving her slender neck bare.

Beside her, Zephyra leaned back against the smooth rim in dark swimwear, her eyes half-closed as she soaked in the deep heat.

Amber was standing in the water near the steps, floating a cedar tray of sliced melon and cold tea toward Calista. Hearing Evren’s footsteps, Amber turned around with a bright smile.

"Look who finally decided to come upstairs," Amber said, brushing wet hair behind her ear. "You’ve been down on seventy-eight for over three hours. Did Silas Drake talk your ear off, or did the two of you end up tearing up the lounge?"

"Everything stayed in one piece," Evren smiled. He unbuttoned his suit jacket, draped it over a lounge chair, and loosened his tie. "Drake just had an old debt to settle from the frontline. He left hours ago; I just had some corporate preparations to review."

He kicked off his boots, stripped down to his swim trunks, and stepped down the wide stone steps into the steaming pool.

The water was hot and rich with clean mana, soaking into his muscles and washing away the stiffness of the day. He waded across the shallow basin toward the submerged ledge where Calista was resting.

"How are you feeling?" Evren asked, taking a seat beside her in the warm water.

"Completely warm, but still numb from the waist down," Calista answered in a quiet voice. "The heat feels good against my lower back, though. It’s the first time in two years I haven’t felt cold down to my bones."

"That’s the calcified stone holding the nerves locked," Evren said. "Until we break the stone, we need to keep the tissue loose and the blood moving."

Evren reached beneath the surface, lifting Calista’s right calf in both hands. He pressed his thumbs along the tight fibers of her calf and ankle with steady, firm pressure. The muscles were thin and stiff from two years without use, but the heat of the pool helped the tissue yield under his touch.

Calista couldn’t feel the pressure of his hands, but she watched his fingers work carefully along her skin. A faint, peaceful smile touched her face, and she rested her hands on the edge of the bench, watching him with quiet trust.

A sudden ripple broke the surface behind Evren.

Two warm arms wrapped around his neck from behind. Amber leaned her full weight against his back, pressing her soft boobs flush against his bare shoulders while her chin hooked comfortably over his collarbone.

"You spend too much time taking care of everyone else, Chairman," Amber murmured against his ear in a teasing purr that sent currents down his spine.

Her legs drifted up through the water on either side of his hips, brushing lightly against his thighs.

Before Evren could speak, Amber’s hand slipped beneath the surface. Her fingers trailed a slow, wicked path down the center of his chest, gliding over his ribs and flat stomach before slipping past his waistline.

Her touch was bold, exploring the tightness of his lower abdomen until her fingertips grazed the ridge straining against the fabric of his swim trunks.

A low, breathless laugh escaped her lips as she felt his growing hardness. She tightened her legs around his waist, arching her body into his back and letting her damp lips brush the sensitive curve where his neck met his shoulder.

"Look at that," Amber whispered, her warm breath tingling against his wet skin. "Someone’s pulse is racing. And here I thought you were completely unfazed by everything."

Across the pool, Zephyra cracked open one eye, a dry smirk curling her lips. "Be careful, Amber. If you keep playing with fire in the pool, you might drown him before tomorrow’s assembly."

"He’s an S-Rank awakener," Amber replied with a wicked gleam in her hazel eyes. "He can hold his breath as long as I want him to."

Calista’s face turned bright crimson. She ducked her head, her silver eyes darting away in flustered embarrassment as her fingers gripped the edge of the stone bench.

Before Evren could turn around to pull Amber into his lap, a sharp chime cut through the humid air.

Evren’s phone, sitting beside his folded suit jacket on the dry stone rim, began to buzz continuously. At the same time, the wall-mounted security intercom beside the double doors lit up with a flashing amber alert.

Amber paused, her hands still resting on Evren’s waist under the water. Her teasing smile faded into a frown.

"An alert at this hour?" Amber asked, glancing toward the screen.

Evren waded over to the edge of the pool, resting his forearms against the cool stone deck. He reached up, tapped the speaker button on his phone, and picked up the call.

"Go on," Evren said.

"Chairman," Guild Master Walter’s deep voice came through the speaker, accompanied by the faint hum of vehicle engines in the background. "Sorry to interrupt, sir. An armored convoy just cleared our perimeter gate at the subterranean motor court. The lead passenger carries an unrestricted Level-Zero Apex executive keycard."

Amber’s eyes widened, and Zephyra pushed herself upright in the water, her shadow mana flaring faintly along the surface.

"Level-Zero clearance?" Amber whispered, staring at Evren. "Only you and I have that in the capital."

Evren didn’t look surprised in the slightest. "Send him up through the express lift."

"Understood, Chairman. Lift dispatched," Walter confirmed before the line went dead.

Silence settled over the thermal bath. The water lapped gently against the basalt edges while the three women looked toward the entrance with tense curiosity.

Less than thirty seconds later, the private elevator outside the glass doors chimed.

The doors slid open, and quick footsteps clicked across the smooth travertine hall, stopping right at the open bathhouse doorway.

Standing under the archway was a tall, sharply dressed man holding a leather briefcase and several sealed folders. His dark hair was combed back, his wire-rimmed glasses caught the lantern light, and his navy pinstripe suit was immaculate despite the late hour.

Amber froze in the water, her jaw dropping in complete shock.

"Mikay?!" Amber gasped, staring at the man in disbelief. "What on earth are you doing in the capital?!"

Zephyra’s brows shot up in rare surprise, while Calista looked between the newcomer and Evren, completely lost.

Director Mikay kept his eyes respectfully fixed on the upper wall, carefully avoiding looking at the three women in the water. He straightened his tie, brought his briefcase to his side, and gave a formal bow toward the pool.

"Good evening, Lady Amber. Lady Zephyra," Mikay greeted in his usual calm, efficient tone. He turned slightly toward Evren. "I apologize for the late arrival, Chairman. The highway transit from Veridia took three hours, but the initial phase is complete. I am here to report for business."

Amber turned her head toward Evren, her eyes wide with total bewilderment. "Evren..." she asked, staring at him. "What is going on?"